Not Everything is Racist

A Message to White Liberals with Microphones

The other day, a really great substack, Culture Study, released an interview with the author of a new book that I have been pretty excited about, Fat Talk. Overall, I think the message of the book is important and I hope people will read it, but right at the beginning of the interview the author dove into a topic that absolutely drives me bananas. In talking about the reasons parents choose not to give their children juice and soda, the author chalked it up to “racism and classism”. She did this more than once. It couldn’t be that parents, who generally, I think, are doing what they think is best for their children given the information that they have at the time, are making the what feels like logical determination that kale juice is healthier than Kool Aid and green smoothies are healthier than Capri Sun. No, says the author, it’s not because parents care. It’s because they are racist.

If it sounds insane, that’s because it is.

It’s giving “tell me you’ve never been called a n*gger to your face without telling me you’ve never been called a n*gger to your face”.

This is by no means the only time something like this has come up. I listen to a lot of podcasts, most of them are hosted by liberal white people, and there is almost always a moment when they call something racist that just… isn’t.

For those of us who have experienced actual racism, and who continue to experience it on a regular basis, we know the difference between “I think kale juice may be healthier for my kids than Pepsi” and “I am not giving you this job because you are black”.

For white people with a microphone or a keyboard though, the kale juice is the problem.

Never mind that these are the first people who will tell you over drinks that the racism you “think” you experienced at work that day is probably just a misunderstanding, or who will casually ask their black roommate if they wash their hair (yes, that is a thing that happens).

I would say that these people all need to call their black friend and ask them “is this racist” before publishing, but I know that most of them do not have a black friend to whom they are close enough ask that question. Which is, of course, the problem.

Do all people of color agree on what is and is not racist? Of course not. But do I feel comfortable saying that most of us are probably less concerned with what kind of beverages parents are serving their children than say, police violence or the systemic expulsion of black children from public schools? Yes, yes I do.

So if you have never in your life personally experienced racism, before you decide to declare that someone’s random personal decision is actually a tool of white supremacy, I am begging you, phone a friend. Or ask me. I am happy to take that call.

WHAT NOT TO WATCH: Do not, for all that is holy, go see Beau is Afraid. It is the worst thing I have ever seen in my life. I will never get those three hours back. I will never have peace of mind again. Not even Patti Lupone, aka God Herself, could save it. The writer/director’s own mother walked out. Save yourselves.